The BCCI has announced the new retention rules for the IPL 2025 mega auction. In anticipation of the 2025 major auction, the BCCI has given IPL franchisees time until October 31st to select which players they wish to keep. Under new retention rules, IPL teams now retain a maximum of six players—both directly and through the RTM (Right to Match). This includes up to two uncapped players from India and a maximum of five capped players from any country.
Notably, players will be deemed capped if they have played for their nation by October 31st. However, if they are kept uncapped and go on to play for another country before the auction, they will once again be regarded as uncapped, and the Rs 4 crore would be reduced from a team’s auction pool.
With an additional Rs 20 crore added to the auction purse, it now stands at Rs 120 crore, giving franchisees more financial resources to put together competitive squads. The annual retention cost for players without caps stays at Rs 4 crore.
Moreover, Indian players who have retired from international cricket at least five years before the start of the season may be purchased as uncapped players, according to a regulation that has been carried over from past seasons.
Given that MS Dhoni hasn’t competed for his country since the 2019 ODI World Cup, this move specifically permits Chennai Super Kings to keep the former captain uncapped. The Impact Player Rule, which has been in effect since 2023, is also upheld.
The Retention Rules for IPL 2025 Mega Auction: A Brief Introduction
Number of Retentions: IPL franchises can keep a maximum of six players from their current squad. This can be accomplished either by retention or by employing the Right to Match (RTM) option.
Salary Cap: The auction purse for the teams has been fixed at INR 120 crore for IPL 2025. The total salary cap will now include auction proceeds, additional performance pay, and match fees. Previously, in 2024, the total salary cap (auction purse + incremental performance pay) was Rs. 110 Crs, but it will now be Rs. 146 Crs (2025), Rs. 151 Crs (2026), and Rs. 157 Crs (2027).
Overseas Player Registration Rules: Any overseas player must register for the Mega Auction. If the overseas player does not register, he will be ineligible to participate in the next year’s player auction.
Selected but Not Present: A player will be banned from both the player auction and the tournament for two seasons if they sign up for the player auction and, after being selected, decide to withdraw before the season begins.
Capped & Uncapped Rule: An Indian player who was capped will lose his or her cap if, during the five calendar years prior to the relevant season, he did not play in the starting XI of an international cricket match or if they do not have a central contract with the BCCI. This rule is only for Indian players.
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